Not coping well

[chrissy99]

Hi all newbie here, my story... ASD repair 1971 was well until 2004 started having lots of palpitations feeling unwell. Pacemaker fitted in 2006 but still suffering palpitations everyday, so bad at times had to give up work, new pacemaker fitted 2016 due to run down battery it did not go well and had to have new lead put in as the consultant could not get the screw out of the header (nightmare!!) not felt well since. In September was trying to do a bit of exercise when heart started racing was taken to A&E had to have cardioversion as heartbeat got up to 260bpm was prescribed Bisoporol (prob spelt that wrong) but feel lousy so reduced the dose and ended back in hospital not sure what is going on, waiting to see someone about ablation but not sure I can take much more feeling very down some days I just sit on the stairs crying I feel so useless and hopeless as I'm not able to do anything because of my symptoms so rarely leave the house. Sorry this is long have tried to keep it brief, does anyone have similar issues? Thanks for reading.

[Helen_BHF]

Hi chrissy99 , I'm sorry to hear you're feeling down. I'm sure there's lots of others on here who feel the same. There's a few threads which might be helpful healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Don't forget, you can always talk to your GP about getting support for the emotional effects of living with a pacemaker or you can speak to a BHF cardiac nurse. Call 0300 330 3311. Hope this helps.

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Hi Chrissy, just wanted to say welcome. Your description of sitting on the stairs and crying really upset me because it reminded me so exactly of how I felt in the early days of being diagnosed with heart failure. I wanted to reassure you that you can be happy again. I am a very positive person now, more than happy with my life and my lot even though my heart still doesn't do what it's meant to. Hopefully your medication can be adjusted and you will start feeling physically better, which always makes it so much easier to work on improving your mental health. My advice would be to accept every single offer of help/company/friendship. Make sure you tell people how you are feeling, you will be surprised how many people will want to support you. I also found it really helpful to talk to a psychologist, it made it much easier to blurt out absolutely everything as I didn't have to worry about upsetting him or looking like a selfish wreck! Wish I could do more to help you, but please know you are far from alone in experiencing these feelings. Keep in touch x

[chrissy99 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Thanks for the info Laura and Helen, had a really bad day today my symptoms are a bit like travel sickness it comes and goes throughout the day(what's that all about?) anyway, back to hosp tomorrow rang docs secretary today as not coping with meds will see what happens thanks again, great site.